Raj Ghat (Delhi)

India / Delhi / Gharonda / Delhi
 crematorium, green area

Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi is a simple black marble platform that marks the spot of his cremation on 31 January 1948. It is left open to the sky while an eternal flame burns perpetually at one end. It is located on the banks of the river Yamuna in Delhi, India. A stone footpath flanked by lawns leads to the walled enclosure that houses the memorial. Two museums dedicated to Gandhi are located near by. The memorial has the epitaph Hē Ram, (literally 'O' Ram', but also translated to 'O God'), believed to be the last words uttered by Gandhi.

It has become customary for foreign dignitaries visiting India to pay their respects to Gandhi at the Raj Ghat by laying flowers or wreaths on the platform. As a sign of respect, visitors are required to remove footwear before approaching the memorial. A commemorative ceremony is held every Friday, to mark the day Gandhi died. Prayer sessions are held at the Raj Ghat on Gandhi's birth and death anniversaries.

Raj Ghat loosely translates to King Court (where King alludes to the importance of the place). Several other samadhis or cremation spots of other famous leaders can be found in the vicinity of Raj Ghat on the banks of the Yamuna. The landscaping and planting of these memorials was performed by Sydney Percy-Lancaster, the Secretary of the Agri Horticultural Society of India, and the last Englishman to hold the post of Superintendent of Horticultural Operations, Government of India.

Jawaharlal Nehru's samadhi is to the north of the Raj Ghat and is known as the Shantivan or Shanti Vana meaning the forest of peace. The area has a beautiful park adorned with trees planted by visiting dignitaries and heads of state. His grandson Sanjay Gandhi's samadhi is adjacent to it.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   28°38'26"N   77°15'0"E

Comments

  • i love gandhiji.....please come back.... our no no no...your india is so poor... our india is not free yet.... please pray & help me to make your india ours..... help me.. hey ram..
  • HEY RAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • its GANDHI not GANDHU
  • I WANT THAT GANDHI JI SHOULD RETURN TO HIS COUNTRY WHICH HE HAS FREED FROM BRITISH RULE AND KEPT US IN PEACE.....BUT I ALSO THINK THAT OUR INDIA IS STILL NOT FREE,SO I WANT HIM TO COME IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS....... :-) :-)
  • I want that bapu comes back and frees our jamu and kashmir
  • a nice beautiful place for a nice holiday a memorial place to appreciate our father of nation by learning his sacrifices for our mother earth
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This article was last modified 10 years ago